Antenna fitting



sept- 9, 1964 w. c. ROGERS 3,151,212

ANTENNA FITTING Filed July 13, 1961 INVENTOR WILLIAM C. ROGERS gw fi m, 12W 1 M ATTORNEY 5 United States Patent 3,151,212 ANTENNA FITTING William C. Rogers, 5365 NW. 36th St., Miami Springs, Fla. Filed July 13, 1961, Ser. No. 123,827 Claims. (Cl. 174-79) This invention relates to antenna supporting structures and, more particularly, to guy fittings for suspending antenna wires between supports and for forming angular bends in the wires.

Antenna wires are usually suspended from various locations on an aircraft by means of tension fittings which grip the wires at each end. At one end, a lead wire is attached to the antenna wire to connect the antenna with another antenna wire or with the radio equipment inside the aircraft. It is the usual practice to attach the lead wire to the antenna wire by a T-splice. A fitting or cover is applied to the connection to protect the splice from the elements. A separate T-splice fitting is undesirable, however, since it causes additional air friction drag and imposes additional stresses on the antenna wire.

Previous attempts to combine the support fitting and T-splice fitting have resulted in fittings which are bulky and difficult to assemble.

Another problem with antenna fittings is that when the aircraft is flying through areas of precipitation, the surface of the aircraft becomes highly charged with static electricity. Charges also build up on the antenna wires and fittings. When corona discharges occur on or near the antenna Wires, the resulting noise pulses block out the radio signals. Attempts have been made to provide corona shielding on antenna connectors, but these shielded connectors usually have large insulated surfaces which promote severe corona discharge.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an L-bend antenna fitting which causes a minimum of air friction drag.

t is a further object of this invention to provide an L-bend antenna fitting which reduces radio interference caused by corona discharges.

It is another object of this invention to provide an antenna fitting which may be assembled to form an |..-bend quickly and easily.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the L-bend connector comprises a supporting body and a cap having a threaded mandrel which cooperates with two collars to bend an antenna wire at right angles between the collars. The mandrel extends outward from the base of the cap and an axial bore extends through the cap and the mandrel. The mandrel is also provided with a radial slot. A tapered undercut shoulder in the base of the cap extends from the circumference of the mandrel to the surface of the cap. A first collar, preferably nylon, having a tapered end fits over the mandrel to abut against the undercut shoulder of the cap. A semicircular cutout is provided in the opposite face of the collar. An antenna wire is inserted into the bore in the cap and bent upward through the radial slot in the mandrel so that it is partially disposed in the semicircular cutout of the nylon collar. A second collar, identical to the first collar, is inserted on the threaded mandrel such that its semicircular cutout is positioned adjacent the bent wire. The cap is then screwed into the supporting body to cornpress the collars between the shoulder in the cap and a shoulder on the end of the supporting body to form an L-bend connector with a smooth exterior.

This preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an antenna fitting embodying the features of this invention;

3,151,212 Patented Sept. 29, 1964 "ice FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the antenna fitting;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the antenna fitting along the line 3-3 in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the fitting showing the method of assembly.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the antenna L-bend connector comprises a cylindrical connector body 10, a portion of which may be fabricated from a non-conductive material 11, such as nylon, to insulate the connector from the surface of the aircraft. One end of the body 10 is provided with a bifurcation 12 which may be used to secure the connector body 10 to a portion of the aircraft. The opposite end of the connector body 10 is adapted to be engaged by a removable cap 13.

The cap 13 has a tubular mandrel 14 which extends outward from the base of the cap. The external surface of the mandrel 14 is provided with screw threads and an axial bore 15 extends throughout the length of the cap and mandrel. A radial slot 16 in the mandrel 14 extends from the end of the mandrel substantially to the base of the cap.

The diameter of the cap 13 at its base is larger than that of the mandrel 14 and a tapered, undercut shoulder 17 is formed in the base of the cap 13. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, collar 18 having a tapered edge 19 to conform to the tapered shoulder 17 of the cap is mounted on the mandrel 14 to abut against the shoulder 17. The opposite edge of the collar 18 is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the collar and a semicircular cutout 21} is formed in the perpendicular edge. The collar is preferably formed from an electrically insulating, slightly yieldable material, such as nylon.

An antenna wire 21 with an insulating covering 22 is inserted through the bore 15 in the cap 13 and mandrel 14. At the desired point, the wire 21 is bent at a right. angle through the slot 16 in the mandrel 14. The collar 18 is rotated until the cutout 20 is in alignment with the slot 16 and the Wire 21 is disposed within the cutout 20. An identical collar 23 is mounted on the mandrel 14 so that its cutout 24 is disposed on the opposite side of the wire 21 from the cutout 20 on the first collar 18. Thus, the cutouts 20 and 24 form a circular hole through the collars 18 and 23 to permit the perpendicular edges of the collars to abut against each other with the antenna wire extending through the hole. The connector body 10 has a tapered, undercut shoulder 25 on its end to abut against the tapered portion 26 of the collar 23. Internal screw threads 27 in the connector body 10 engage the threaded mandrel 14 to compress the collars 18 and 23 and the antenna wire 21 between the cap 13 and the connector body 10 as the connector body 10 is screwed on the mandrel 14.

The connector is assembled as shown in FIGURE 4 by slipping the collar 18 over the mandrel 14 so that it is positioned against the tapered shoulder 17 of the cap 13. The insulated antenna wire 21 is then inserted through the bore 15 in the cap 13 and the mandrel 14 until the desired point of bending is adjacent the perpendicular edge of the collar 18. The wire which extends out of the end of the mandrel 14 is then bent outward through the slot 16 until a right angle is formed in the wire 21. When it is bent, the wire 21 will be disposed within the cutout 21 of the collar 18. The second collar 23 is then inserted on the mandrel 14 so that its cutout portion 24 cooperates with the cutout 20 on the collar 18 to form a hole through which the insulated wire 21 passes. The collars then clamp the wire in place as they are compressed between the cap 13 and the connector body 10 which is screwed on the mandrel 14. The connector body 10 is rotated on the threads 27 until a tight connection is formed with the cap 13 and the bifurcaiton 12 is properly oriented to engage a connector bracket on the aircraft.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the L-bend connector has a smooth exterior surface. The tapered shoulders 17 and 25 force the ends of the collars 1S and 2?; inward toward the mandrel 14. This prevents buckling of the collars when they are being compressed between the connector body It} and the mandrel 14 and prevents distortion of the collars when tension is applied to the portion of the wire which extends through the hole between'the collars. Since the collars 18 and 23 are slightly yieldable, they will not cut into the insulation 22 of the antenna wire. The bifurcation 12 on the connector body must be oriented as is shown in FIGURE 1 to properly engage a support bracket and there must be some provision for adjusting the angular position of the connector body with respect to the plane of the L-bend. The yieldable material of the collars permits sufiicient movement of the connector body 1% to allow the bifurcation 12 to be properly oriented without reducing the pres sure on the collars.

To overcome the problem of corona discharge which causes radio interference, the cap 13 is formed out of an electrically conductive material. The radius of curvature of the cap between the base and the end is large so that the static electrical charges will be substantially uniformly distributed over the surface of the cap. As long as the charge on the cap remains small there will be no corona discharge and, consequently, no radio interference. Even in areas of high static charges, the conductive cap will allow the charges to build up before discharge and radio disturbances will be intermittent rather than continuous. Since the collars are nonconductive, corona discharges will not take place around the sharp edges of the collars, as they would if the collars were made of a conductive material. Furthermore, the smooth overall surface of the connector which at one end blends into the surface of the antenna wire, reduces the tendency for corona discharge.

The connector can be fully assembled quickly and easily without the use of any tools. The assembled connector has a smooth slender configuration which causes only a small amount of friction drag and which minimizes radio interference caused by corona discharges.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in one embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein, without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. A guy fitting for supporting an antenna wire and for forming an angular bend in the wire comprising a base, a tubular electrically conductive cap, a pair of electrically non-conductive collars interposed in end to end abutting relation between the cap and the base, one of said collars having a groove in said abutting end to permit an antenna wire which is inserted through the cap to extend through the groove between the collars at a right angular bend with respect to the wire in the cap and means for attaching the cap to the base to clamp the collars therebetween.

2. A guy fitting for supporting an antenna Wire and for forming an angular bend in the wire comprising a base, a tubular electrically conductive cap, a hollow tubular mandrel extending between the cap and the base, a slot in the mandrel, a pair of electrically non-conductive collars mounted on the mandrel, said collars having a groove in adjacent ends over the slot to permit an antenna wire which is inserted in the cap to extend between the collars at a right angular bend with respect to the wire in the cap, and means for attaching the cap to the base to clamp the collars therebetween.

3. An antenna guy fitting comprising a base, a tubular cap, a hollow tubular mandrel extending between the base and the cap, said mandrel having a smaller diameter than the outside diameters of the cap and the base, a shoulder on the cap and a shoulder on the base extending between the mandrel and the respective outside surfaces of the cap and the base, a cap collar mounted on the mandrel, said collar having one end bearing against the shoulder on the cap and the other end provided with a cutout portion, a base collar mounted on the mandrel, said base collar having one end bearing against the shoulder on the base and the other end provided with a cutout portion which is disposed adjacent the cutout portion of the cap collar, a slot in the mandrel and means on the mandrel for adjusting the longitudinal distance between the shoulders of the cap and the base to clamp a wire which extends through the cap and through the cutout portions or" the collars in an angular bend.

4. A guy fitting for supporting an antenna wire and for forming an angular bend in the wire comprising a base, a tubular cap, a hollow mandrel secured to the cap in axial alignment therewith, said mandrel having an externally threaded portion and a radial slot, an annular shoulder formed on the cap adjacent the mandrel, a tubular base having an internal threaded portion adjacent one end to cooperate with the threads on the mandrel, a pair of individual collars mounted on the mandrel, said collars having adjacent cutout portions to form a hole therethrough whereby a wire which extends through the cap is restrained in a bend as it extends outward through the slot in the mandrel and through the hole between the collars.

5. A guy fitting for supporting an antenna wire and for forming a right angular bend in the wire comprising a base, a tubular cap, a hollow mandrel extending between the cap and the base said mandrel having a slot therein, a pair of individual collars in end to end abutting relation on the mandrel, one of said collars having a radial groove in said abutting end forming an opening over the slot for receiving an antenna wire which is inserted in the cap and extends between the collars at a right angular bend with respect to the wire in the cap,

cans for attaching the cap tothe base, and means for clamping the collars between the cap and the base.

6. An antenna connector comprising an elongated cylindrical connector body, means on one end of the body for supporting the body, a cap having an axial bore therethrough, a hollow tubular mandrel extending between the cap and the body, said mandrel having a smaller external diameter than said cap and said body thereby forming opposing shoulders on the adjacent ends of said cap and said body, said mandrel having a radial slot therein extending longitudinally between said shoulders, a pair of individual collars mounted on the mandrel in end to end abutting relation between said shoulders, said collars having an outer diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of said cap and said connector body, means for adjusting the axial distance between said shoulders to clamp said collars therebetween, one of said collars having a radial groove in the abutting end over said slot whereby an antenna wire which is inserted in the bore and in the hollow mandrel extends outwardly through said groove and being clamped between said collars, resists axial movement of the wire out of said bore.

7. A guy fitting for supporting an antenna wire and for forming an angular bend in the wire comprising a base, an electrically conductive cap, a hollow mandrel extending between the cap and the base, said mandrel having a slot extending radially therethrough and substantially the entire length thereof, a pair of individual collars mounted on the mandrel, said collars having a groove in adjacent ends over the slot to permit an antenna wire which is inserted in the cap to extend between the collars at a right angular bend with respect to the wire in the cap, and means for attaching the cap to the base to clamp the collars therebetween.

8. An antenna guy fitting comprising a cap, a mandrel secured to the base of the cap, a longitudinal bore extending through the cap and mandrel, said mandrel having a slot extending radially therethrough and longitudinally thereof from adjacent said cap to the opposite end of said mandrel, a first collar mounted on the mandrel in abutting relation with the base of the cap, and a second collar mounted on the mandrel to engage an antenna wire which is inserted through the bore in the cap and bent at right angles to the bore to extend out of the slot at a point between the first and second collars, said mandrel having means thereon for securing the mandrel to a support whereby the antenna wire may be clamped between the collars.

9. A guy fitting for supporting an antenna Wire and for forming an angular bend in the wire comprising a base, a tubular electrically conductive cap, a hollow mandrel secured to the cap in axial alignment therewith, said mandrel having an externally threaded portion and a slot extending radially therethrough and longitudinally thereof from adjacent said cap to the opposite end of said mandrel, an annular shoulder formed on the cap adjacent the mandrel, a cylindrical base having an internally threaded portion adjacent one end to cooperate with the threads on the mandrel, a pair of electrically nonconductive collars mounted on the mandrel, said collars having adjacent cutout portions to form a hole therethrough whereby a wire which extends through the cap is restrained in a bend as it extends outward through the slot in the mandrel and through the hole between the collars.

10. An antenna guy fitting comprising a cap, a mandrel integral with said cap and extending in longitudinal alignment therewith from the base of the cap, a longitudinal bore extending through the cap and mandrel, said mandrel having a slot extending radially therethrough and longitudinally thereof from adjacent said cap to the opposite end of said mandrel, a first collar mounted on the mandrel in abutting relation with the base of the cap, and a second collar mounted on the mandrel to engage an antenna wire which is inserted through the bore in the cap and bent at right angles to the bore to extend out of the slot between the first and second collars, said mandrel having means thereon for securing the mandrel to a support whereby the antenna wire may be clamped between the collars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 834,669 Fricke Oct. 30, 1906 1,346,539 Gray July 13, 1920 1,471,173 Kulier Oct. 16, 1923 1,702,911 McArthur et al. Feb. 19, 1929 1,793,140 Steinmayer Feb. 17, 1931 2,434,658 Katz Jan. 20, 1948 2,562,880 Andrew Aug. 7, 1951 2,686,216 Appleton et al. Aug. 10, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 470,788 France June 24, 1914 533,400 Germany Jan. 25, 1930 121,926 Australia Aug. 1, 1946 

5. A GUY FITTING FOR SUPPORTING AN ANTENNA WIRE AND FOR FORMING A RIGHT ANGULAR BEND IN THE WIRE COMPRISING A BASE, A TUBULAR CAP, A HOLLOW MANDREL EXTENDING BETWEEN THE CAP AND THE BASE SAID MANDREL HAVING A SLOT THEREIN, A PAIR OF INDIVIDUAL COLLARS IN END TO END ABUTTING RELATION ON THE MANDREL, ONE OF SAID COLLARS HAVING A RADIAL GROOVE IN SAID ABUTTING END FORMING AN OPENING OVER THE SLOT FOR RECEIVING AN ANTENNA WIRE WHICH IS INSERTED IN THE CAP AND EXTENDS BETWEEN THE COLLARS AT A RIGHT ANGULAR BEND WITH RESPECT TO THE WIRE IN THE CAP, MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE CAP TO THE BASE, AND MEANS FOR CLAMPING THE COLLARS BETWEEN THE CAP AND THE BASE. 